UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell on Tuesday warned that fossil fuel-driven stagflation, a mix of rising prices and slowing growth, threatens the global economy, and urged faster transition to clean energy.
Speaking at the opening of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Germany's capital Berlin, Stiell said the latest war in the Middle East has "further locked-in much higher fossil fuel costs for months and likely years to come, delivering a gut-punch to every nation and billions of households."
He warned that fossil-fuel-driven stagflation "is now stalking economies -- driving up prices, driving down growth, pushing budgets deeper into quagmires of debt, and stripping away governments' policy options and autonomy."
"The need to accelerate action has never been clearer," he said.
Stiell stressed that speeding the clean-energy shift requires concrete steps such as scaling renewable investment, cutting fossil‑fuel subsidies, and strengthening supply chains for clean technology.
He also noted the importance of clean energy, saying that it offers security and affordability while returning sovereignty to nations and their peoples.
Hosted by Germany since 2010, the two-way dialogue brings together ministers and senior representatives from over 40 countries ahead of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31). About 400 participants are expected to discuss priorities for 2026 and build support for more ambitious climate action.
UN climate chief urges investment, reform to speed up clean energy shift
The United Nations (UN) has urged for an immediate resumption of dialog between the United States and Iran on Tuesday, as Iran's UN envoy maintained that further negotiations depend on the U.S. lifting its blockade.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, told a press conference on Tuesday that the UN is maintaining intensive communications with all relevant parties to prevent further escalation of regional tensions, calling on the U.S. and Iran to resume talks as soon as possible.
"The secretary-general as well as personal envoy continue to have various numbers of communications. Our firm hope is that the dialog between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran will resume," said the spokesman.
However, the prospect of renewed talks remains uncertain. Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's permanent representative to the UN, told China Media Group (CMG) in an interview that they are ready for talks, but there are prerequisites.
"We hope so. We don't know. We're ready for that. It depends on the United States. If they [remove] the blockade, I think the next round of negotiation will take place," he said, when asked whether negotiations will resume.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social on Tuesday he will extend the ceasefire with Iran as the current two-week truce is set to expire on Wednesday night.
The U.S. military will continue the blockade against Iran and "remain ready and able," Trump added.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, whose trip to Pakistan for talks with Iran has been put on hold, was at the White House for meetings on Tuesday, along with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, multiple media outlets reported.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived at the White House on Tuesday afternoon to join discussions over Washington's next steps, according to the reports.
The United States violated the ceasefire by starting a naval blockade of Iran's ports, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday on X.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state TV late Tuesday that Iran has not yet decided whether to join fresh peace talks since it was upset about what he called mixed messages from Washington.
UN urges resumption of US-Iran dialog, Iran envoy demands end of blockade
